Next Atmospheric River On Its Way To Bc Bringing Heavy Rains And Hope To Drought Stricken Areas

The rain is forecast to be heaviest on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where about 80 millimeters could fall in less than 36 hours, while Environment Canada models show some Metro Vancouver communities could receive 60 millimeters or more. Models show 40-50 millimeters of rain expected by Saturday in Comox on Vancouver Island and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast, which are still ranked at drought level 5, the most severe rating on the province’s drought scale. Vancouver Island, the interior south coast, parts of the southern interior and all of northeastern BC. are listed as either level 4 or 5, meaning that the catastrophic effects of dry conditions are “probable” or “almost certain”. Comox recorded just 22 millimeters of rain in October, about 100 millimeters below its average, but Environment Canada says rainfall at the end of the month helped many areas closer to seasonal averages. After almost no rain since early July, the weather service says nearly 70 millimeters fell on the Sechelt in the final days of October, enough to ease emergency water restrictions at midnight Tuesday that closed many businesses, including the local ice rink. However, the rain is not enough for the region to lift water conservation orders or a local drought-induced emergency. A statement from the Sunshine Coast Regional District issued on Monday said the “cautious” easing of restrictions on October 18 had been approved as recent rain boosted flows from its heavily depleted main reservoir, which serves about 90 per cent of residential and business on the lower Sunshine Coast. “This year, we have almost skipped autumn weather at higher elevations, having moved quickly from a prolonged summer drought to freezing winter conditions,” the statement said. If no more rain comes or temperatures drop to freezing, the district said it will consider returning to water restrictions for non-essential businesses such as breweries and gravel, concrete and asphalt companies.

title: “Next Atmospheric River On Its Way To Bc Bringing Heavy Rains And Hope To Drought Stricken Areas " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-18” author: “Jason Horkey”

The rain is forecast to be heaviest on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where about 80 millimeters could fall in less than 36 hours, while Environment Canada models show some Metro Vancouver communities could receive 60 millimeters or more. Models show 40-50 millimeters of rain expected by Saturday in Comox on Vancouver Island and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast, which are still ranked at drought level 5, the most severe rating on the province’s drought scale. Vancouver Island, the interior south coast, parts of the southern interior and all of northeastern BC. are listed as either level 4 or 5, meaning that the catastrophic effects of dry conditions are “probable” or “almost certain”. Comox recorded just 22 millimeters of rain in October, about 100 millimeters below its average, but Environment Canada says rainfall at the end of the month helped many areas closer to seasonal averages. After almost no rain since early July, the weather service says nearly 70 millimeters fell on the Sechelt in the final days of October, enough to ease emergency water restrictions at midnight Tuesday that closed many businesses, including the local ice rink. However, the rain is not enough for the region to lift water conservation orders or a local drought-induced emergency. A statement from the Sunshine Coast Regional District issued on Monday said the “cautious” easing of restrictions on October 18 had been approved as recent rain boosted flows from its heavily depleted main reservoir, which serves about 90 per cent of residential and business on the lower Sunshine Coast. “This year, we have almost skipped autumn weather at higher elevations, having moved quickly from a prolonged summer drought to freezing winter conditions,” the statement said. If no more rain comes or temperatures drop to freezing, the district said it will consider returning to water restrictions for non-essential businesses such as breweries and gravel, concrete and asphalt companies.